CRI听力:China launches inspection campaign to address wage arrears for migrant workers

A government inspection has been launched in China to guarantee that migrant workers are paid on time and in full.

According to statistics, authorities checked 116,000 such reported cases from January to October, which is a drop of over 37-percent year on year.

As a result, nearly 2.5 million migrant workers have been received a total due payment of more than 20 billion yuan.

China's Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Qiu Xiaoping says the issue of wage arrears for migrant workers has seen significant improvement, while more efforts are needed to further protect their rights.

"We need to strengthen monitoring and build a long-term mechanism to guarantee wage payment. The solution to the problem lies in prevention. But on the other hand, wage arrears usually happen at the end of the year. Inspections are necessary at this time."

In September, the ministry issued a document, providing that entities that default on paying workers' wages will be blacklisted starting 2018.

Qiu Xiaoping says that the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security have jointly issued a memorandum, laying out the punishment measures for wage default.

"The blacklist method will come into force on January 1, 2018, which happens to dovetail with the inspections. Companies that default on paying their workers will be put on the blacklist. This will serve as a deterrent to such practice."

The regulations are being made known in public places such as city plazas, train stations, and ports.

Seminars are also being held for migrant workers to educate them about protecting their rights.

Ji Wanling, a construction worker at China Railway No. 8 Engineering Group, sheds light on what he has learned.

"We feel content and satisfied after we got paid in full. This is our due share and a merit attributed to our effort. It demonstrates the proper respect to us migrant workers. After today's seminar, I will introduce the policies and law to my fellow workers, teaching them how to use the law to protect their lawful right."

Earlier this year, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang promised to address the issue of wage arrears for China's migrant workers.

Aside from the inspections, Chinese authorities are also saying that local officials will be held accountable for not cracking down on companies that don't pay their employees.

For CRI, I'm Guan Chao.